Rajat Sharma’s India TV to launch Wiz channel

There finally seems to be some ‘breaking news’ from the company, which specialises in and swears by that term. Rajat Sharma, chairman, Independent News Service (INS) and editor-in-chief, India TV will launch his second 24-hour TV channel, called India TV Wiz, a hybrid news channel in Hindi and English.

Speaking to us, Sharma says the new channel will be launched by the end of this financial year. “A unique bouquet of content, which will make it a national phenomenon, is under the offering.” he says.

“Wiz will be available on analogue cable TV and all digital platforms. The aim is to connect with new-age audiences through the fast-emerging digital media business – India TV Interactive. It will be plugged on to new media platforms from day one.” Sharma says.

India TV, Sharma says, has been witnessing steady growth over the past year. “Four our new channel we desire to maintain the same consistency of India TV, but in an more innovative manner. The programming line-up for Wiz will ensure a better connectivity and interactivity with our viewers.”

In January 2008, Bangalore-based Shyam Equities has invested Rs 100 crore in INS, the parent company of India TV. The company has been valued at Rs 500 crore, and Shyam Equities has bagged a 20 per cent stake offloaded by the holding company.

Sharma had said earlier that the Shyam Equities development will lead to strategic growth beyond India TV. This includes launching a bouquet of channels, a distribution blitz in key international markets, and a significant entry into non-news and non-television media.

In March 2007, Fuse+ Media, an entity of ComVentures, a leading Silicon Valley based venture capital and private equity group, had placed the equivalent of Rs 50.9 crore of FDI in INS for a 19.17 per cent stake.

NDTV and The Hindu to launch ‘NDTV Hindu’ on May 16

NDTV Ltd and The Hindu have come together to launch Chennai-centric English news channel, called NDTV Hindu, which goes live from May 16. The channel will cover breaking news and current affairs, as well as user-friendly information.

Announcing the launch of the channel, Dr. Prannoy Roy, chairman, NDTV Ltd, said, “We firmly believe that the future of news is in going local. The Hindu Group with its impeccable credentials has been a household name for generations in Chennai and this partnership will help NDTV Hindu to capitalise on the brand strengths and journalistic values of both the media houses.” 

N Ram, editor-In-chief, The Hindu, said, “Though there are a few Indian language channels that exist for local news, yet there is no English channel catering exclusively to this vibrant city. With NDTV’s strong television broadcasting and editorial capabilities, NDTV Hindu will bring out the true flavor of the city through its high-end content.”

N Murali, managing director, The Hindu, added, “With its non-stop programming across genres, catering to a young urban India, NDTV Hindu aims to change the perspective of every Chennaite about their city, by the minute.”

Rajiv Lulla, managing director and CEO, NDTV Hindu, added, “This channel is a winning combination of editorial excellence and superior programming, targeted at the young. We are sure we will be able to capture the pulse of the city and give the viewers what they have been missing so far.”

Both the partners, Hindu and NDTV believe that city-centric television is the future and are in the relationship for a long term. The channel had a soft launch on May 5 and has signed up with many multi-system operators, including SCV and Hathway Cable and Datacom.

As far as the content is concerned, the channel will focus on both news and features. It will have seven-and-a-half hours of hard news; the remaining time would be devoted to city-centric features, including shows based on audience interaction, fitness, food, shopping, movies, technology, citizen journalism and others. 

Some of the feature programmes on the channel are: I Spy With My Digital Eye, Worked Out Victim, Unclocking Life and Big Pic. The channel will will invite students from Chennai schools for I Spy with My Digital Eye weekly show, where they will be taught how to make films, all caught on camera.

Jennifer Arul, managing editor/COO, NDTV Hindu, on Night Vision show will round up the day’s happenings in and around the city and national news of importance. Coinciding with the counting day, viewers can watch Jennifer on the election special Night Vision with TV journalist Sashi Kumar.

Meanwhile, MetroNation Delhi has stopped live broadcasts and a revamped version of the channel is expected to be launched by the end of July. The Delhi-based channel is presently relying on old shows, along with news tickers.

BBC Parliament channel gets a fresh look

BBC has announced that its channel BBC Parliament will have a new look from today with refreshed graphics and channel idents.

The channel audience has doubled since BBC Parliament became available on Freeview in 2006 and it now reaches 1.4 million viewers a month – 480,000 a week.

Channel Controller Peter Knowles said, “I’m sure our growing audience will enjoy our new look and continue to explore the wide range of political coverage and programming on the channel. Our round-the-clock broadcasting of Parliament, by digital terrestrial, cable, satellite and the web is vital to ensure that we have an informed democracy.”

The channel features proceedings from Westminster, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast. As well as unedited coverage of the Commons and Lords, it also shows the most important committee hearings.

BBC Parliament also makes a range of original programmes. The Record reviews the day’s parliamentary work. Record Europe covers the European Parliament. Booktalk brings a weekly round-up of the latest political writing and interviews with leading authors.

BBC Parliament also screens themed evenings including the recent Night The Government Fell which received excellent reviews.

BBC Parliament was launched in 1998 and had its last ‘refresh’ seven years ago.

CNBC Awaaz launches Chota Business Bade Sapne reality

CNBC Awaaz, the Hindi business news channel from the house of Network18, will launch a corporate reality show, called Chota Business Bade Sapne – Ban Jao Biyani, which aims to encourage entrepreneurial talent from small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

The show gives the aspiring entrepreneurs a platform to achieve their dream of becoming big and it goes beyond just ideas by providing the participants with help and recognition.

Sanjay Pugalia, editor-in-chief, CNBC Awaaz, says, “The show was launched with the simple objective of acknowledging the growing SME sector and to support the entrepreneurs who aim to make it big.”

Sanjay continues, “We have always been associated with the SME sector through numerous initiatives. Chota Business Bade Sapne is a huge step in the direction of development of SMEs by bringing the expertise and guidance of a business legend to the emerging entrepreneurs.”

The successful entrepreneur, Kishore Biyani of Future Group, will act as a guide and mentor to participants on the show. The channel has finished the on-ground activities for the show by receiving 2,000 entries from across the country.

The scope of the popularity of the show can be ascertained from the fact that the maximum entries received were not only from the big cities like Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Mumbai and Ludhiana but also from small pockets of the country such as Siliguri, Thiruvellore, Rourkela and Ichalkaranji.

The on-ground events gave the participants an opportunity to present their business summaries and future expansion plans before an esteemed panel, which guided them with their expertise to make their business plans more effective.

The panel also commented on the presentations and discussed various aspects of identifying and exploiting possible opportunities in the SME sector as well as what it takes to rise to the top of the SME game.

TV Today Network to buyback 10 % equity

TV Today Network Ltd, will spend up to Rs 29.3 crore for a buyback of up to 10 per cent of equity of shares. The company will buyback up to 4.78 million shares at a maximum price of Rs 115 each.

TV Today will buy back shares at a premium price of 102 per cent from the company’s yesterday closing price of Rs 56.80. Shares in the company were up 0.35 percent at Rs 57 in a weak Mumbai market.

The buyback will open on March 16, while its last date is July 30, the company said in a statement to the National Stock Exchange (NSE). Post the buyback, the promoter holding in the company would increase from the existing 55.68 per cent to 65.68 per cent.

“The maximum offer price has been arrived at after taking into consideration factors such as the trends in the market price of the equity shares during the last six months prior to the date of the meeting held on 31 July, 2008 of the board for approval of buy-back, price-earning ratio and impact on other financial parameters.” the company said in its statement.

TV Today Network recorded a net profit of Rs 8.67 crore in the quarter ended December 2008, down 48% from the corresponding quarter in December 2007. The company, incorporated in 1999, currently runs four news and current affair channels – Aaj Tak, Headlines Today, Tez and Dilli Aaj Tak.

UP news channel Jan Sandesh launches

Uttar Pradesh is emerging as the hot bed for news channels ahead of elections. Jan Sandesh is the latest to launch, aiming to garner local audiences in this politically active market.

Headquartered in a fully equipped studio in Film City, Noida, the channel will rely on its four OB-Vans, 11 bureaus and 75 stringers across Uttar Pradesh for news.           The channel has the tag line “Apna Pradesh, Apna Desh.” The programming line-up includes Good Morning UP and shows based on health, food, film, travel, astrology, devotional, women’s special, children, youth and career, comedy and variety.

“We have launched the channel and are available on cable networks across the state except on DEN. Soon we will expand this reach to MP, Punjab, Delhi, Rajasthan and other places where there is a sizeable UP population,” says Deepak Bajaj, the channel head of Jan Sandesh.

The channel has roped in Girish Juneja as executive editor for news and programming. He moves in from CNEB news channel where he was creative and programming head.

Sahara is the only player which runs a local news channel in UP. Zee is also planing to soon launch a regional channel in UP.

Times Now No.1 in 2008 ( and now )

TIMES NOW the most watched 24 hour English news channel emerges as the no.1 channel in 2008 according to the audience measurement data released by TAM (Television Audience Measurement). TIMES NOW’s news-centric strategy combined with its superior content has contributed towards establishing TIMES NOW as the undisputed leader in English News Channel space in India.

 

Amongst CS Male 25+ SEC AB, 1Million plus markets TIMES NOW was at No.1 position for 29 weeks out of 52 in 2008 against 18 for NDTV and CNN-IBN for 9 weeks. In terms of channel viewer ship share TIMES NOW garnered an average channel share of 28% in comparison to NDTV 26% & CNN-IBN 22% for the entire year.

 

Amongst all adults (CS15+, 1 Million + markets) TIMES NOW was at No.1 position for 32 weeks out of 52 with NDTV at 28 and CNNIBN at 4.

 

2008 has seen events that have redefined television journalism as we know it – Key events like the Union Budget, the IPL finals, Jaipur blast, the Trust vote of the UPA Government, US elections, Mumbai Terror Attacks and the recently concluded State Elections. TIMES NOW has consistently scored over competition and garnered the highest share in each of these key events.

 

Speaking about the year Mr. Chintamani Rao, CEO TIMES NOW says, “The battle of the news marketplace is fought every day of the week, every hour of the day. TIMES NOW has made it its mission to be ‘Always with the news’ – whether it’s the big events or it’s the daily news; triumph or tragedy. These numbers tell us that what we do is meaningful to the viewers for whom we work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”

 

It’s been only 3 years since launch and TIMES NOW has scripted a growth story in TV news unparalleled in terms of traction in viewership, leading over competition and becoming the most watched and preferred English news channel. News relevant to an urban audience in areas of politics, economics, sports, entertainment in India and across the world has resulted in TIMES NOW becoming a daily habit of viewers across the country to catch their news needs. The focus on news, responsible and unbiased reporting and an unparalleled passion for news journalism gives TIMES NOW the clear edge over competition thus dethroning NDTV to emerge as the undisputed leader in English news space.

 

The New Year will see the channel remain committed to asking tough, incisive and often uncomfortable questions to give the viewer the sharpest perspective on news.

NewsX shines post Mumbai terror attacks

As the entire nation tunes in to the news channels for precise updates post the Mumbai terror attacks, NewsX, the English news channel from the house of INX News, stands firm as an trusted source of information amongst others.

According to the TAM Media ratings for the Week 49, the channel’s prime time programmes touched a new high. While the news bulletin at 11 pm on December 01 was the top rated programme, a special programme on Mumbai called 59 Hours of Terror, was ranked number three among the top 100 programmes across all the English news channels. Overall four programmes from NewsX were among the top five programmes during the week.

The ratings reinstates that the channel has succeeded in building a sustainable relationship with its audience through its programming. NewsX has also been rated as number two channel among C&S Digital audiences with relative channel share of 23 per cent on weekdays during the prime time.

Arup Ghosh, head of news room, NewsX, says, “Our attempt to comply with the framework laid down by the security agencies without compromising on the authenticity of the coverage and content, in wake of India ’s most brutal battles, is what was applauded by our viewers. Our team will continuously strive to offer ethical content to our patrons.”

Adds Gautam Mukerjea, marketing director, INX News, “NewsX stands committed to its core promise of Clarity in a Complex World since inception. These recent ratings clearly stand as testimony to our focus on delivering accuracy and clarity in news dissemination.”

BBC to celebrate Christmas with two docus

BBC will explore two of the best loved traditions of Christmas in two documentaries for BBC Two, The Truth About Carols and The Star Of Bethlehem – Behind The Myth.

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Sir Cliff Richard talks to Sally Magnusson about how his faith has shaped his five decades in showbiz in a special one-hour festive edition of Songs Of Praise.

Plus, there will be a chance to hear the very best traditional Christmas music from the quiet splendour of King’s College Cambridge for A Festival Of Nine Lessons And Carols and the joyous celebration of the Songs Of Praise Christmas Big Sing from London’s Royal Albert Hall.

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In The Truth About Carols, composer Howard Goodall uncovers the often turbulent and uncomfortable relationship between carols and the celebration of Christmas.

Though they have been around since the 12th century, carols have only been a feature of church services for the last 150 years.

For centuries the Church tried to keep carols out, believing them to be pagan or of no value, because they were written by human hand.

Carols have been used as secret codes, saved from the brink of extinction and been the subject of state censorship.

The carols sung seem set in stone and yet they can have more than 400 regional variations. Their roots are in dance, in folk culture, street theatre and in pre-Christian religion; and yet they’ve ended up as the quintessential expression of the Christmas story.

In Star Of Bethlehem – Behind The Myth, new developments in technology are allowing scientists, astronomers and historians to map the night skies of the ancient world with extraordinary accuracy.

As they study the movements of the planets and stars around the time of the birth of Christ, could the star of Bethlehem have been a triple conjunction of planets, an occultation of Jupiter and Saturn, or even a supernova?

Christmas preparations start on BBC One on the first Sunday in Advent with Christmas Voices. This is an hour-long programme of inspirational song, chat and debate presented by Lesley Garrett.

Songs Of Praise will prepare for the season with four special programmes. The first on Saint Andrew’s Day (30 November) comes from Linlithgow, birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots.

The second is a special programme celebrating Sir Cliff Richard’s 50 years in show business. Cliff talks to Sally Magnusson about his faith, work and life over the past five decades.

Recorded in front of an invited audience representing the charities he has supported throughout his career, Sir Cliff describes how his attitude towards others has changed, and how he likes to remain an enigma.

I&B gives India TV time till 1 December to reply to notice

The ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) has issued a notice to India TV for airing telephonic conversation with two terrorists holed up in Nariman House and The Oberoi Hotel.

Confirming the development to us, a senior I&B official said India TV was given time till 1 December to reply to the notice. The ministry has demanded an explanation from the channel for affording a “platform to terrorists to espouse their cause” and will consider taking “stringent action” after that.

Justifying India TV’s stance, COO Rohit Bansal said: “We will be sending a comprehensive reply to the ministry.”

He said that the telephonic conversations helped security agencies give compelling answers on their accent and provide first-hand confirmation to the world that they had come from Pakistan and not from Hyderabad in the Deccan.

“India TV partnered with the help of security agencies and helped generate specific and information that one terrorist, Shadullah, was using the mobile phone of a Swedish lady, Lisa Ringner, kept hostage in Room No.1856 at The Oberoi. The other terrorist Imran Babar, holed up in Nariman House, was using the phone belonging to another hostage, Holtzberg Gaverlein. India TV repeatedly asked these terrorists to surrender, as they were surrounded by security agencies and appealed to them to release the hostages.”

Defending India TV’s position, Bansal further said: “All across the globe, video/audio messages of Osama Bin Laden and interviews of self-styled commanders of Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashker-e-Taiba have been broadcast by the media. These stories have exposed the perpetrators of terror. The entire objective of India TV was similar. We engaged the two terrorists in on-air conversations and secured vital information about their numbers, intentions and their foreign origin.”